Ball game court with heat receiving panel structure

ABSTRACT

A ball game court is provided comprising a plurality of panels which may be removably secured to ground mountings. Each panel may comprise a sandwich-like configuration having upper and lower sheets of weather resistant material. Core material may be disposed between the upper and lower sheets and siding may be secured to the edge portions of each panel to completely enclose the core therein. Electrical heating elements may be provided for heating the surfaces of each panel for snow removal or the like. Ground mountings may be provided with framework for vertically supporting poles used as a part of a frame for supporting netting. Sheet or strip material may be applied to an upper surface of each panel to protect the thin upper sheet from damage and wear and therefore are designed to be replaceable. These strips would also give the panel the resiliency, sound absorption and feel characteristics of a wooden court, and help distribute the load on the core.

[ Dec. 18, 1973 BALL GAME COURT WITH IIEAT RECEIVING PANEL STRUCTURE [75] Inventor: Michael Pappas, Irvington, NJ.

[73] Assignee: Originetics Incorporated, Hopewell,

[22] Filed: June 30, 1971 [21] Appl. No.: 158,191

[52] US. Cl 272/3, 219/213, 219/345 [51] Int. Cl A63b 61/00 [58] Field of Search 272/3; 273/6, 29 R,

[56] References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 2,246,101 6/1941 McEnany 52/615 X 2,458,184 1/1949 Marick 219/345 x 3,465,121 9/1969 Clark.... 219/213 2,609,474 9/1952 Tidd 219 345' 2,205,398 6/1940 Eaton 272/3 3,383,108 5/1968 Reilly, Jr 272/3 2,512,875 6/1950 Reynolds 219 345 2,613,306 10 1952 Waltersdorf et al, 219/345 3,454,746 7/1969 Dubois 219/213 x 3,697,728 10 1972 Stirzenbecher 2191345 x I FOREIGN PATENTS OR APPLICATIONS 1,179,788 12/1958 France 273/29 R Primary ExaminerA nton O. Oechsle Assistant Exa minen-R. T. Stouffer Attorney-Sperry and Zoda [5 7] ABSTRACT A ball game court is provided comprising a plurality of panels which may be removably secured to ground mountings. Each panel may comprise a sandwich-like configuration having upper and lower sheets of weather resistant material. Core material may be disposed between the upper and lower sheets and siding may be secured to the edge portions of each panel to completely enclose the core therein. Electrical heating elements may be provided for heating the surfaces of each panel for snow removal or the like. Ground mountings may be provided with framework for vertically supporting poles used as a part of a frame for supporting netting. Sheet or strip material may be applied to an upper surface ,of each panel to protect the thin upper sheet from damage and wear and therefore are designed to be replaceable. These strips would also give the panel the resiliency, sound absorption and feel characteristics of a wooden court, and help distribute the load on the core.

5 Claims, 9 Drawing Figures MFNIEDUEC 1 n 1975 3; 779.547

INVENTOR Micune; Pawns 22 f 7 ATTORN s PATENTEDUEB18 I975 SHEET 2 OF 4 INVENTOR M um. Pawns BY M7 W m0 YS PATENTEDDEB 18 ms 3779547 SHEET 3 0r 4 INVENTOR ml'annez. Pawns BY M F 2 4 I TTORNEYS BALL GAME COURT WITH HEAT RECEIVING PANEL STRUCTURE BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION wooden platform, which is supported above the ground.

on mountings. The platform is rectangular in configuration and generally measures 31 X 61 feet. A high taut wire mesh screen encloses the platform on four sides to prevent a ball from leaving the play'area.

The precise dimensions of the overall tennis court are regulated by a professional game association. One of the functions of this association is to preserve and propagate interest in the game so that the association is thereby charged with the duty of insuring that any court construction replacing the traditional wooden court meets with certain stringent requirements.

In view of these requirements, any substitute structure for the traditional wooden tennis platform should present only minor changes in the feel or play of the tennis court. This feel of a platform tennis court is a relatively intangible quality, but the quality is manifested by several discemable characteristics. These characteristics include: the deflection characteristics of the platform (especially the grossdeflection of the court underfoot by the players); the surface of the court which surface is traditionally comprised of 6-inch wide wooden floor members having one-quarter inch spaces defined therebetween; the sound that the court generates when a ball or a players foot is thrust thereagainst; and the local resiliency of the court platform, particularly as it affects the rebound of a ball.

The traditional platform tennis court, which isassembled almost entirely at the site with little or no prefabrication, is beset with disadvantages. The court requires a relatively large amount of high-grade, expensive, structural timber, which amount may range in a magnitude of 25,000 pounds. Since the platform is exposed to the elements all year around, and since exposed cut wood is relatively perishable, the maintenance requirements attending the traditional wooden panel tennis court are extensive. The dimensions and properties of existing wooden platforms change due to extensive exposure and inherent on-site construction variables. These changes result in variations and a general lack of uniformity among courts which, in turn, produce noticeably different playing qualities from one court to another. Furthermore, in the northern climates, the manual removal of snow from traditional wooden tennis platform s, presents an additional significant maintenance expense.

Recently, attempts have been made to improve upon the traditional platform tennis court. One example of such an attempt is evidenced by U. S. Pat. No. 3,383,108, issued to R. J. Reilly, Jr., in 1968. The Reilly platform tennis structure illustrates the large quantities of wood required for constructing wooden tennis courts. Similarly, all the above discussed problems which attend traditional wooden platform tennis courts necessarily attend wooden platform tennis courts constructed inaccordance with the teachings of the Reilly patent.

The present inventor is aware of current efforts to mitigate the aforesaid problems by using metallic structural members in-the place of wooden members in platform tennis courts. The approach taken in these efforts is to substitute metallic structural members for the wooden structural members so that a platform tennis court may comprise a plurality of, for example, aluminum beams in the place of wooden beams. This approach permits a greater degree of prefabrication, decreases maintenance expenses, and insures greater dimensional stability and uniformity from one platform tennis court to another.

Nevertheless, the cost of materials in providing a platform tennis court comprising metallic structural game of tennis is undesirably high.

OBJECTS AND SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION It is therefore an object of the present invention to provide a construction to be used as a ball game court which construction minimizes or eliminates many of the problems attending existing ball game courts.

It is another object of the present invention to provide a ball game court which is far less expensive to assemble than is existing such ball game courts.

It is still another object of the present invention to provide a ball game court which is less expensive to maintain than is existing such ball game courts.

lt isv yet another object of the present invention to provide a ball game court which lends itself to a greater degree of prefabrication than does existing such ball game courts.

It is a further object of the present invention to provide a ball game court which weighs less than existing such ball game courts.-

It is yet a further object of the present invention to provide a ball game court which may be easily disas sembled and reassembled so as to provide a degree of portability.

It is yet still another object of the present invention to provide a ball game court having an automatic snow removal feature. I

It is yet still a further object of the present invention to provide a ball gamecourt which essentially comprises'weather resistant components, but yet which approximates the feel and sound characteristics of traditional wooden ball game courts.

It is another object of the present invention to provide a ball game court which facilitates the aesthetic arrangement of the elements comprising the court.

It is invention object of the present invention to provide a structure for ball game courts which structure ensures uniformity of characteristics from one ball court to another similar ball court.

At least some of the above listed objects are carried out by the provision of a ball game court comprising a plurality of horizontally disposed panels secured to a ground mount means. The panels are supported in endto-end relationship to align in a generally horizontal plane and each panel comprises a sandwich-like construction including a central core member juxtaposed between upper and lower sheets of wear-resistant material. The panels may be connected to the ground mount means by removable connector means to facilitate the disconnection of each panel from the mount means for disassembling the overall ball game court for storage and the like. In one feature of the invention, heating means may be provided for melting snow and ice accumulations on an upper surface of the ball game court. The insulating effect of the core member insures the efficient operation of the heating means.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS FIG. 3 is a vertical sectional view of two panels,

mounted in edge-to edge abutting relationship, taken along Line 33 of FIG. 1;

FIG. 4 is a vertical sectional view showing the connection of a net pole with the platform of the present invention and a net supporting pole;

FIG. 5 is a perspective view of a mounting plate portion of the section shown in FIG. 4; 7

FIG. 6 is a detailed perspective view of a snow removal means and net frame mounting means generally in FIG. 1;

FIG. 7 is a partial sectional view of the mounting shown in FIG. 6; I

FIG. 8 is a detailed perspective view of a poleand net frame connectionshown generally in FIG. 1; and

FIG. 9 is a perspective view of an alternative mounting for securing a net pole to the platform of the present invention.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT Referring now to the drawings in which like numerals are used to indicate like parts throughout the various views thereof; FIG. 1 shows a platform tennis court constructed in accordance with the present invention.

The court generally comprisesa large playing-platform 10 comprised of a plurality of panels indicated as 12 through 27. Each panel 12 through 27 may be supported at several points by a foundation mounting means so that, for example, panel 18 is supported by mounts 28, 29, 30 and fourth mount (not shown) corresponding in position with mount 29 and disposed along the opposing edge 32 of the panel 18.

It will be noted, that each panel 12 through 27 may be supported by four,'six or more mounts soas to provide uniform deflection throughout the entire surface of the overall playing court 10. The connection of each panel with the mounts will be described in detail in connection with FIGS. 2, 3, 5 and 7 of the drawings.

The overall playing court 10 may be'enclosed by means of a netting 34 which may be held operatively taut by means of framework indicated generally as 36 and comprising vertical poles 38, lower horizontal booms 40 and upper horizontal booms 42.

Some of the'vertically extending poles 38 may be provided withextensions 44 for supporting spotlights 46 for illuminating the playing area.

A tennis net 48 may be supported by posts 50 and 52,

which, due to the lightweight of the net 48, may be secured to the panels 12 through 26 as shown in FIGS. 4, 5 and 9 or may, themselves, be mounted directly on foundation mounts as shown in FIGS. 6 and 7. Referring now to FIG. 2, a corner portion of one of the panels 12 through 27 is shown in an exploded perspective view. The mount 28 is provided with two upwardly extending threaded studs 60 and 62. A tie down plate 64 may be provided with holes or slots for the insertion of the threaded stud members 60 and 62. 'Alternatively, tie down nut and washer assemblies and 72 may be threadedly engaged with the threaded studs 60 and 62, respectively, so as to impinge the edge surface 73 of the tie down plate 64 between the nut and washer assemblies and an upper surface 74 of the foundation mount 28. One or more rubber leveling pads 76 may be interposed between the tie down plate 64 and the upper surface 74 of the foundation mount 28.

A panel may be welded, cemented, or otherwise fastened tothe tie down plate 64 at points 77, 78, 80 and 82. The tie down plate 64 should extend beyond the edge 84 of a lower skin portion 86 of the overall platform 14 so that the edge surface 73 on the plate 64 is exposed for engagement with the threaded means 60, 62,70 and 72.

The panel 18 includes the lower skin portion 86 which may consist of a thin sheet of material such as aluminum, steel or plywood, and an upper skin portion 88, consisting of a similar such material. Core material 90 may be disposed between the upper and lower skin portions 88 and 86 respectively. A siding portion 92 may be disposed in a plane inclined from the vertical between the upper and lower skin portions 88 and 86, respectively, and may be formed with horizontally extending flange portions 94 and 96 for flush contact with the inner surfaces of the skin portions 88 and 86. The siding member 92 may comprise achannel of aluminum, steel, plastic or other such structural or nonstructural material and may be cemented in place.

The siding member 92 encloses the core within the panel and interconnects the upper and lower skin portions 88 and 86, respectively. In this manner, the siding member 92 protects the core enclosed therein..The siding members are inclined in a direction such that the siding members of adjacent panels diverge downwardly (FIGS. 3 and 4).

A'series of electrical heating elements 98 may be disposed about the outer surface 100 of the siding portion 92 of the panel when a heat conducting siding material such as aluminum is used. The heating elements 98 may be connected with a source of electrical power and the heat provided thereby may be transmitted through the siding member 100 tov the space defined by the skin portions 86,88 and the siding portion 92. This warm air space, retaining the core material 90, is operable to melt snow or ice disposed on the outer surface 102 of the upper skin portion 88. Of course, the series of heating elements 98 may be removably attached to the panel portion 92 to be mounted on the panel only during the winter months. The elements 98 may be attached to the siding portion 92 by threaded fastening means or any other similar such means well known to those skilled in the art. Alternatively, heating elements 98 may be disposed between the upper surface of the skin portion 88 and a decking strips 104.

The decking strips 104 or a grooved decking sheet may be disposed on the outer surface 102 of the upper skin portion 88 of the overall panel and, in accordance with the construction of traditional platform tennis courts, the decking strips may be approximately 6 inches in width and disposed to define a one-quarter inch space therebetween. The decking strips 104 may comprise a non-metallic'plastic material, a rubber material, or may even comprise wooden strips cemented to the upper skin 88. The strips 104 are operable to simulate the effect of a wooden court, to protect the upper skin, to hlep dstribute the load on the core, and to produce a non-metallic sound when a ball or a players foot is thrust thereagainst.

A thermal barrier strip 106 may be disposed between the lower horizontal flange 96 of the siding portion 92 and an upper surface of the lower skin portion 84 of the panel. This strip 106, in combination with the core material 90, operates as an insulator for drastically reducing the heating power requirements for melting ice or snow accumulated on the upper surface of a panel. The excellent heat conducting properties of, for example, aluminum skin and siding channels would provide efficient heat transfer to warm the entire upper surface of a tennis platform sufficiently to melt any snow or ice accumulations disposed thereon. The heating elements may be thermostatically controlled to automatically generate heat during periods of freezing temperatures.

The decking strips 104 may be cemented to the upper surface 102 of the upper skin portion 88 of the panel. The decking may then be painted, using conventiorial ground walnut shell paint-mix or other high friction paint. Alternatively, the painted effect could be reproduced using colored plastic or rubber strips which may be roughened on the upper surfaces thereof. These strips may be designed for ease of cement application and for ease of removal using a suitable cement solvent. The strip material should be selected for good weatherability and wear'characteristics. I

Referring now to FIG. 3, it can be seen that the siding members 92 of two abutting panels may be mutually inclined to define a very narrow gap 200 between the tions 92 of the panels 18 and 26. If unexpected transverse forces are applied to the pole 52, the fins 218 and 220' would be operable to bear against the siding portions 92 so as to transversely reinforce the pole 52. Conventional nuts 222,224 and 226 may be used to properly clamp the pole 52 to the abutting panels 18 and 26. Alternatively, a collar member, (not shown) may be fixed in a ground mount and the net pole 38 frictionally held therein by means of a set screw or the like. FIG. 6 shows such an arrangement.

Referring now to FIG. 6, it can be seen that a bracket 230 may be welded to a pole 38 and provided with upper skin portions 88 of each panel and to define a wider gap 202 adjacent the lower skin portions 86 of the panels.

FIG. 3, being in cross section, clearly shows the disposition of a core material within the space defined by the upper skin portion 88, the lower skin portion 86, and the siding portion 92 of the panel. The core member 90 may comprise a cardboard honeycomb material, a foamed-in-place plastic, a wooden core or even a lightweight metal cote. Reinforcing gusset plates 204, or the like, may be disposed horizontally or vertically within each panel to provide additional strength to support the weight of tennis players or other expected loads such as those due to snow or wind.

Referring now to FIG. 4, a mounting arrangement of two abutting panels with a net pole 52 is shown in partial cross section. FIG. 5 is a perspective view of the arrangement in FIG. 4, showing a lower clamping plate 206 provided with upwardly extending threaded studs 208, 210 and 212. An upper clamping plate 214 is provided with the pole 52 and a reinforcing gusset plate 216. Downwardly extending stabilizing fins 218 and 220 are formed on the underside 221 of the upper clamping plate 214. These fins 218 and 220 fit vertically in the space 200 defined between the siding porholes for receiving pins 232 extending horizontally from snow removal boards 234 and 236. The boards 234 and 236 are pivotable about the pins 232 in a gatelike manner in order to permit the sweeping of snow, or the like, off the tennis court if it is so desired. The bracket 230 may also be provided with a net tightening bolt 238 which extends through the lower boom 40 and operates to tighten the enclosing net upon the tightening of the bolt 238. r

' FIGS. 6 and 7 show the mounting of a vertical pole 38 on a ground mount 28 by means of a base collar 240. The pole 38 fits within the collar 240 and is vertically fixed 'by a set screw 242 or the like. The base collar 240 may be secured to the mount 28 by J-bolts 241 embedded in the concrete of the mount. The base collar may be formed with a horizontally extending lip 243 which is effective to impinge upon the plate 64 of the panel 18 upon the tightening down of nuts 244 and 246 on the J -bolts 241.

FIG. 8 shows a connection between a pole 38 and an upper horizontal boom member 42. The post 38 is provided with a semi-cylindrical clamping member 250 at its upper end thereof, having its axis aligned generally perpendicular to the axis of the pole 38. The upper extension 44, which supports a spotlight 46 (See FIG. 1), is provided with a mating semi-cylindrical clamping portion 252, which similarly is aligned with its axis extending perpendicular-to the axis of the extension 44. The two semi-cylindrical members 250 and 252 form a cylindrical clamp, which is secured about the upper boom 42 by threaded fastening means 254, 256 and a correspondingfastening means (not shown) on the opposing side of the clamp which'extend through flange portions of the cylindrical clamp.

FIG. 9 shows an alternative arrangement for mounting a net pole 52 or an enclosure net pole 38 on panels 18 and 26. A channel base member 300 is provided with a sleeve 302 for receiving a lower portion of the pole 38. The lower radially extending surface of the sleeve may be formed with a wall to support the vertically extending pole 38 or the pole may be held by a set screw 304 or the like. The flanges 306 and 3080f the channel base member 300 may be held in clamping relationship with the panels 18 and 26 by means of vertically extending bolt and nut combinations or merely' cemented in place.

ADVANTAGES It'can thus be seen that a constructionfor a platform tennis court has been herein provided which construction solves many of the problems attending-existing platform tennis courts whichare essentially comprised of woodenmembers. The platform according to the present invention costs far'less thanexisting platform tenniscourts' consisting of wooden or metallic members. The weight of the tennis platform according to the present invention is approximately one sixth the weight of existing wooden courts. Due to this reduced weight, the associated ground mountings need not be as substantial or as expensive as is presently required.

The construction according to the present invention readily lends itself to prefabrication techniques which reduce on-site installation time and, consequently, reduce installation costs. The sandwich and decking strip construction according to the present invention produces playability characteristics of feel and sound which more closely resemble the feel and sound of wooden platform tennis courts. In particular, the objectionable vibration and noise of the all metal court would be eliminated. The removable connections of the platforms with the ground mountings facilitates the disassembly and reassembly of the overall tennis court so as to permit the periodic storage thereof. Due to the light weight of the tennis court according to the present invention, settling of the structure is held to a minimum. The great strength of the aluminum edges and the vertical poles extending from the ground mounts provides a' great degree of design flexibility which may be exploited to enhance the aesthetic appearance of the overall tennis court. Furthermore, the thinness of the court, the finished edges and the absence of supporting beams and joists presents an overall aesthetic appearance which is cleaner than heretofore known. The heating feature of the tennis court according to the present invention, may be manually or automatically actuated to melt snow or ice accumulations on the playing surface of the tennis court. The insulating effect of a core of material within the enclosed panel facilitates snow removal which would not be facilitated by the use of metallic structural members used in the place of counterpart wooden structural members. The deck stripping provides a sound and feel very nearly similar to the sound and feel of wooden platform courts. Additional gusset plates or rib members may be included within the several panels comprising the tennis court to increase the load strength thereof.

Since the construction according to the present invention permits the use of modern materials as structural aluminum, maintenance expenses may be reduced to very reasonable levels. No maintenance expense other than occasional repainting and/or infrequent replacement of decking strips should be required.

Since the weather does not so adversely affect aluminum material as it does wooden structural members, uniformity from one platform tennis court to another is insured. The sandwich panel arrangement of the present invention more closely approximates the feel of a wooden court than does a court comprised of metallic beams, or the like, used to replace counterpart wooden beams.

SCOPE OF THE INVENTION While what has been shown is a preferred embodiment of the present invention, it is of course understood that various modifications and changes may be made therein without departing from the true spirit and scope of the invention. It is, therefore, intended to cover in the following claims all such modifications and changes as may fall within the true spirit and scope of the present invention.

What I claim is: 1. A ball game court comprising; a plurality of horizontally disposed panels; said panels being arranged in end-to-end abutting relationship; and each said panel comprising a sandwich-like construction, including upper and lower horizontally extending sheets of wear resistant material and a core juxtaposed between said upper and said lower sheets, the marginal edges of said core being bounded by siding, said core being completely enclosed within said panel by said upper and lower horizontally extending sheets and by said siding, said siding comprising a heat conducting material; and heat generating means operatively connected with said siding to impart heat thereto upon the actuation thereof. 2. A ball game court according to claim 1 wherein said vertically extending siding consists of aluminum.

3. A ball game court according to claim 1 wherein said heat generating means comprises electrical resistance means adapted for connection with a source of electrical power.

4. A ball game court according to claim 3 wherein saidelectrical resistance means comprise a series of attached to said siding.

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE CERTIFICATE OF CORRECTION Patent No. 3,779,547 Dated December 18, 1973 Inventoflx) Michael Pappas It is certified that error appears in the above-identified patent and that said Letters Patent are hereby corrected as shown below:

Column 5 line 12 change "hlep" to help-.

Claim 4, line 2, after means should read comprises a series of electrical heating elements disposed adjacent an outer surface of said verticalextending siding Signed and sealed this 23rd day of April 197E.

(SEAL) Attest: I

EDWARD ILFLETCHERJR. C. MARSl-iALL DANN Attesting Officer Commissioner of Patents Q po'wso USCOMM-DC OOS'IG-PBD 9 ".5. GOVERNMENT 'RINTING OFFICE: (hill-Q8}.

, UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE CERTIFICATE OF CORRECTION Patent No. 3,779,547 Dated December 18, 1973 Invencoflx) Michael Pappas It is certified that error appears in the above-identified patent and that said Letters Patent are hereby corrected as shown below:

Column 5 line 12 change "hlep" to --help-- Claim 4, line 2, after means should read -comprises a series of electrical heating elements disposed adjacent an outer surface of said verticalextending siding.-

Signed and sealed 1 this 23rd day of April 19m.

(SEAL) Attest:

EDWARD PLFLETGHERJR. C. MARSl-IALL DANN Attesting Officer Commissioner of Patents OR (1o's9) uscomwoc 60376-P59 I w u.s. GOVERNMENT wmm'lus OFFICE is o-ass-qs), 

1. A ball game court comprising: a plurality of horizontally disposed panels; said panels being arranged in end-to-end abutting relationship; and each said panel comprising a sandwich-like construction, including upper and lower horizontally extending sheets of wear resistant material and a core juxtaposed between said upper and said lower sheets, the marginal edges of said core being bounded by siding, said core being completely enclosed within said panel by said upper and lower horizontally extending sheets and by said siding, said siding comprising a heat conducting material; and heat generating means operatively connected with said siding to impart heat thereto upon the actuation thereof.
 2. A ball game court according to claim 1 wherein said vertically extending siding consists of aluminum.
 3. A ball game court according to claim 1 wherein said heat generating means comprises electrical resistance means adapted for connection with a source of electrical power.
 4. A ball game court according to claim 3 wherein said electrical resistance means comprise a series of electrical heating elements disposed resistance means comprises a series of electrical heating elements disposed adjacent an outer surface of said vertical extending iding.
 5. A ball game court according to claim 4 wherein said series of electrical heating elements are removably attached to said siding. 